Djokovic downs Dimitrov to reach Paris Masters final

Paris - Novak Djokovic saw off Grigor Dimitrov in the Paris Masters last four
on Saturday to set up a potential final against Rafael Nadal - his
rival for the year-end world number one spot.

Top seed Djokovic
came through a dramatic first-set tie-break before prevailing 7-6 (7/5),
6-4 to move to the brink of a record-extending fifth Bercy title.

The
32-year-old will face either Nadal, who can secure the end-of-year top
ranking by winning the tournament, or Canadian youngster Denis
Shapovalov in Sunday's final.

It will be the 50th Masters final of
Djokovic's career and his sixth in Paris, having lost to Russian Karen
Khachanov in last year's championship match.

"The first set, he
played better," said Djokovic.

"It was played at a really high level.
The atmosphere was incredible, especially in the tie-break."

The
16-time Grand Slam champion is bidding for his fifth title of the season
ahead of the ATP Tour Finals in London, which start on November 10,
where he will be hoping to equal Pete Sampras' record of finishing six
years as the world number one.

Djokovic leads his storied rivalry
with Nadal by 28 wins to 26, and has beaten 20-year-old Shapovalov in
all three of their previous meetings.

Dimitrov started strongly on
serve, showing the form that had taken him through the last three
rounds without dropping a set, but could not force a break point as the
opening set went to a tie-break.

The 28-year-old claimed a mini-break to lead 5-4, but then powered a simple volley into the tramlines after a 32-shot rally.

Djokovic
claimed a one-set advantage, and pointed to his ear in celebration,
after a brilliant 35-shot exchange on his first set point that ended
with Dimitrov sending a backhand spinning long.

World number 27
Dimitrov, playing in his first Masters semi-final since losing to Nadal
in Monte Carlo last year, appeared to have regained his composure at the
start of the second set, but was broken in the fifth game as Djokovic
closed in on victory.

Dimitrov managed to force his opponent to
serve for a place in the final, but Djokovic did just that with his
second straight hold to love.